The Congress: When Luxuries Become Necessities

The House of Representatives might have
been debating the merits of apple pie for all the opposition that was
voiced. Before the House was President Johnson's proposed $4.8 billion
excise-tax cut, and House leaders had set aside five hours one day last
week for pro and con on the bill. But there was so little con that the
debate lasted barely three hours, after which the House passed the bill
by a vote of 401 to 6.* As whooshed through by the House, the bill
would repeal "luxury" taxes in three stages over...